Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Woman of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the Canadian former Olympic diver and medalist Jennifer Abel.
Jennifer Abel is a leading Canadian diver with a strong international record, with Olympic participation highlighting her career achievements. She was born on August 23, 1991, in Montreal, Quebec. Abel is from a Haitian and Canadian background. David Lemieux, a former IBF middleweight boxing champion and her significant other. Lemieux proposed to Abel after the 2020 Summer Olympics, and they’re now engaged. They’re parents of two children.
At only 16, Abel’s debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics made her one of Canada’s youngest Olympic divers. Despite not winning an Olympic medal that year, Abel and Emilie Heymans won several medals on the Grand Prix circuit.
The 3-meter springboard and synchronized 3-meter springboard are Abel’s areas of expertise. Jennifer Abel has an Olympic career spanning Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. At the 2012 London Olympics, she and Émilie Heymans took home a bronze medal in synchronized 3-meter springboard diving. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she also got fourth place in the individual 3-meter springboard event.
Abel’s FINA World Championship wins include 1-meter springboard gold (2011) and 3-meter synchronized springboard silver (2017, 2019). With multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games, she won gold in the 1-meter springboard in 2010 and again in 2014. Abel’s success at the Pan American Games included several medals, notably gold medals in the 3-meter springboard (individual and synchronized).
She represented Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics. In Tokyo, Abel and her partner Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu won silver medals in the 3m springboard event. Abel officially announced her retirement after the Tokyo Olympics.
Jennifer Abel is one of Canada’s most accomplished divers. Her consistency, resilience, and dedication to the sport have made her a role model for aspiring athletes in Canada and worldwide. Today, we honor Jennifer Abel as our Evolved Women of the Week.
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